-Chapter 5-
She sighed, letting her toes touch the surface of the water. The sounds of the brook beneath her calming her nerves as she thought back to all that had happened this day.
As Eruwen departed from the grand chamber, she took no notice of the eyes of all those present. She didn't care. Nothing could describe the despair she felt right now. A dark and unknown abyss of misery opened up to her, and she felt like falling into it, losing herself within her own grief.
She leaned heavily against the side of the outside wall of the chamber, her legs feeling as if they held no more strength. Her face rested against the smooth wood, her eyes clouded with tears that slowly fell from her eyes. By the gods, she just wanted everything to go away. She didn't want to feel this anymore.
A pair of elves watched the small human girl with worry. They too felt grief resting upon their hearts, but they also knew that the heart of this girl was too much like their own. If they let the sorrow within her heart grow, then it would eventually consume her entire being.
Perhaps even claiming her life.
They looked at each other without uttering a single word, both deciding what they had to do to cheer up their beloved Eruwen.
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There was a silence as they watched the blonde haired girl leave. No one dared to utter a word; the elves in respect, and the fellowship from shock. The question as how she knew the occurrences in the mines of Moria ran through their minds.
At length, Celeborn spoke again, "Are her words true?"
Aragorn looked at the silver haired elf and simply nodded, sparring a glance at his companions. He saw that they too were surprised by the human girl. He opened his mouth, to ask the unvoiced question, but stopped as Celeborn held up his hand.
"Everything will be explained in due time" he said, looking at his lady. He could see in her eyes that she knew the truth of the whole situation. He turned back to the others, "But now we have more pressing matters."
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"Ahh, where are you taking me?" Eruwen asked, barely struggling as two of her elven friends took up each of her hands and lead her down from the large talan.
"You've been gone too long" one said, looking back with a smile.
"Yes, much too long." the other echoed.
"But I've been only gone for less than two days" she countered
"Two very long days. You must be exhausted!"
Eruwen sighed. She was tired, both physically and emotionally. But that didn't explain why they were doing this.
"So what if I am?"
"Well for one thing, we need to get you out of those dirty clothes for tonight. And there's the fact that you need to wear something that doesn't..." the elf paused, her nose crinkling up for a moment
"Doesn't what?"
"Doesn't smell" the second elf said with ease, her eyes lighting up with laughter.
The other rolled her eyes "You could've said it more politely" she hissed as they came up to Eruwen's own talan.
Eruwen couldn't help but let out a small giggle as they walked into the small hut. She knew what they were trying to do, and she loved them all the more for caring. However right now, she felt as if the world was falling apart right before her eyes.
But why discourage their efforts?
"Now, here's the perfect thing to wear for a time like this"
She looked up to see her friend holding a simple white gown, she frowned slightly, "That looks like what my lady is wearing..." trailing off, she watched as her friend pulled out another gown, and held it up for her to see.
Eruwen sighed, lightly running a hand over her forehead before nodding. She took the light material in her hands, and waved her friends out of her room before proceeding to change.
"The nightly feast will be served in an hours time. We shall both see you then Eruwen"
She couldn't hear the sound of their footsteps, but she knew that they had left her. Why? Who knew, perhaps it was this night that they had to help with the night feast. She was glad though, that they had helped bring her here.
Feeling her legs weaken beneath herself, she sat down upon her bed. She couldn't believe that he was gone. The man that had brought her to this blessed place, her dear old friend was gone.
Mithrandir.
Grief gripped her heart again, and her hands tightened their hold on the bed covers. Hot tears burned at her eyes once again, mixed with a feeling of exhaustion. She lay herself out on her bed, not bothering to pull the covers over her body, lest she wrinkle her gown. She felt tears running down her cheeks, seeping into her pillow as they fell from her face.
Silently crying, she closed her eyes in an attempt to stop the tears from flowing. Her body shook from a nonexistent chill, and a hush fell over the girl- her mind soon drifting off into the world of dreams, her escape from this reality.
Or so she thought.
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"So you've come back to me"
Eruwen turned, her eyes seeing nothing but the familiar dark forest.
"I knew you couldn't stay away for long"
That voice! Just like the one the night before.
"Who are you?" she asked, pushing down the rising fear in her mind.
"Who am I?" the voice was filled with amusement "My dear, we are going around in circles. Asking the same questions over and over again"
There was that heat again, an unseen presence surrounding her-almost seeming to suffocate her.
"I sense a deep sadness within your heart" it whispered
She kept her mouth closed, willing herself to stay calm.
"Anger resides inside you as well." The voice gave a low laugh
"What do you find so funny?" she demanded, trying to move away from this being. She found this hard to accomplish, as if something were holding her on this very spot.
"Anger. Such a, human emotion." the voice responded "Yet, it is one of the many things that turns them"
"What? What do you mean?"
"Join me" it said without hesitation "You will have such power, and will be able to fulfill your deepest desires. Take revenge upon those who have hurt you"
Eruwen frowned. "I refuse to join something that-" she gasped, the heat around her increasing as it did the first time meeting with the this...being.
"I will not de denied!" Anger echoed through the voice.
It felt like hands were curling around her throat, and lifting her off the ground. She grasped at the invisible assailant, but her hands met no resistance.
"Either you will join me, or die"
"Then let me die." She meant that with every fiber of her being. Let her be in a place of peace, where no pain existed.
The voice paused, and Eruwen felt the grip around her throat loosen. She started to fall to the ground, but was caught by one of her wrists. Wincing from the tight hold, she struggled to free herself.
"Do you want to see what will happen, in the future of Middle Earth?"
She stopped. The future? Like what she saw of Mithrandir that night?
Before she could answer, the scenery around her began to shift. The setting still dark like the night. She gave a small cry, wishing to look away from the scenes before her. But her mind was paralyzed from the pure shock of what she saw.
Blood.
So much blood.
Around her a battle raged. Cries of victory and screams of defeat echoing from every direction.
She shuttered, ignoring the pain in her wrist. This was the future of Middle Earth? It couldn't be!
"This is what will happen" the voice claimed. It seemed so close to her ear, "But if you join me, then you will be saved from this pain."
"Saved, but what will happened to me then?" She frowned, taking her struggle once again "I will not join you! How could I join something that I cannot even see?! How could I join something that feels so wicked, it makes me sick to the very core?"
She could hear a low growl beside her, the grip tightening on her wrists "You will join me-Willingly or not. Just wait until you leave your sanctuary, and I will have you. You cannot escape me, I can feel your power from anywhere now. I want-"
It was cut off, and gave a pained cry as a blinding white light appeared between the two. Eruwen felt her wrist being released, and she fell away from her invisible enemy.
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Galadriel raised her head, her eyes catching sight of her jewelry box. Feeling a strange feeling within her mind, she swiftly and silently walked up to it. Her slender fingers lightly touched the surface of the silver box, feeling an unfamiliar warmth from it.
In one quick movement she released the clasp and lifted the top. Her eyes showed a trace of surprise as she picked up a small ring from its resting place. A faint and still fading light was coming from the ring, and a warmth that was not so foreign to her.
What was the meaning of this?
Putting the ring back into the jewelry box, she quickly shut the lid and walked from her talan.
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Eruwen gasped, sitting up in her bed. Frantically she looked around, as if expecting something to jump out at her. Her breathing slowed as she regained her senses. That was much too real for her liking. Yes, much too real.
She could feel her body shaking as she pushed aside a lock of hair from her face, and rubbed her hand against her face-as if to assure the reality of her surroundings. She winced as she pulled her hand away, a sharp pain pulsating from her wrist.
Slowly, she pulled up the sleeve of her gown. 'Oh please' she silently willed, 'please don't tell me that it was true.'
Her breath caught in her throat and the tears returned as she stared down at her wrist.
A dark but quickly fading bruise stared back at her. The very wrist that-that thing had held onto.
It soon faded completely, leaving no trace of its existence on her body.
She sat there for several moments, questioning her sanity. Had it really been there? Or was her mind just playing tricks on her?
"Eruwen?"
She jumped from her spot startled, her heart racing inside her chest. Silently, she gave a sigh of relief as she looked upon her visitor.
"Hello my Lady"
Galadriel retained the same passive look she always had, but worry clearly shone in her eyes. "Are you alright?"
Slowly, Eruwen nodded. "Why wouldn't I be?"
The lady stepped up to the small human, striding to her side and placing a hand on her hair "After what happened today, I would have thought..."
Eruwen held back the cry she had wanted to give at the reminder. No, she didn't wish to worry her lady more than was necessary. She knew that the Lady of Galadhrim had more to deal with than it seemed.
Galadriel did not miss the sadness that passed through her 'daughters' eyes, but she decided against pursuing the subject.
"The night feast should be ready now"
She looked up and gave a small smile, "I'm sorry lady. I'm not hungry tonight."
The elf nodded, and started to leave the small shelter- but she paused, "I wish to speak with you later." She requested before striding silently out the doorway.
Eruwen nodded, watching the retreating back of the lady in white. A few moments passed before she took stepped out and away from the talan. Not really knowing where she was going, she let her instincts lead her away from this place. She just wanted to be alone for awhile with her thoughts.
Her instincts had lead her here; to a small brook still within the city's borders. The land around the water was raised, which was what allowed her to dangle her legs down into it. The cool feeling that spread from her toes to the rest of her body was calming in a way, and she enjoyed that feeling.
This place, this very brook was the location of the first time she had worked magic. The memory of the time wasn't especially pleasant, seeing as how after she had accomplished what Mithrandir had asked of her, she had felt dizzy and had fallen into the water.
She could still hear his kind voice echoing through her mind, telling her for the first time about the properties of magic.
'Magic is all around us. It's part of the earth, the sun, and even the air we breath. All natural living things have magic, but few have the ability to access it. Reach inside yourself and find a harmony within your heart. Become one with the earth, one with your surroundings, and pull the magic from there.'
'Wouldn't that hurt the trees though?'
'Of course not. Hush now and concentrate.'
"Magic" she whispered "Is a part of me, and a part of the world." She could feel a familiar warm feeling growing inside of her, and she channeled that feeling to the tips of her fingers. She bent low, close to the water, and made a scooping motion with her hand. Instantly, a orb of water separated itself from the brook, and floated up to her cupped hand.
A small smile touched her face. This had been the first task she had been given by Mithrandir that day. To think, it had taken her an entire week so master such a simple feat.
A cold feeling suddenly emerged in her stomach, and she quickly turned to look behind herself. She barely caught the sight of gold behind a tree before it moved from her sight, and she knew instantly that she was being watched.
Her eyes narrowed as she brought her legs back up onto the bank. She still held onto the ball of water, and the thought of teaching her 'stalker' a lesson came into mind.
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Had she seen him? No, she couldn't have. He was pretty sure he had moved quick enough to be not seen by her.
This girl, she puzzled him. There, there was that nagging feeling in the back of his mind that just wouldn't go away.
To be frank, the girl raised among elves intrigued him. Yes he knew he shouldn't have followed her here, but there were so many question he wanted to ask. Some that everyone in the company wished to know as well. They had all voiced their curiosity the moment they had left the presence of the other elves.
They had discussed little since the departure of the human girl. Galadriel provided her words of wisdom to those of the Fellowship, and had later allowed them to leave and spend the remainder of their time resting.
After their departure, they set up camp upon the ground of the forest. All those new to meeting the lady spoke of her, and those unaffected by her dominating presence made no comment at all. Later into their conversation, Pippen had been the one to question the strange human girl.
No one knew what to think of her, or had any sort of explanation to her knowledge. Save Sam that is, who claimed she had know by using 'Elven magic'. The other hobbits eventually agreed with this idea, but the rest of them had been slightly unsure of the idea.
He, personally felt there was something more to this girl. Much more.
It had been then, he had seen her walking amongst the trees. Her hair had been let down, and she wore a dark blue gown, the material shimmering in the light of the forest. The entire look of her was so simple, and yet...She carried the grace of elves. Only natural for one raised by elves, right?
"A pretty thing she makes" Boromir had commented, "I wonder if she'll still be around when all of this is over..."
The elf ignored his comment, and waited for Boromir to turn his back on him before rising from his spot on the ground. Quickly, he had walked through the trees of the forest-hopefully unnoticed by his companions. His footsteps were silent, and he kept back a distance from the oblivious girl. It was then the question finally appeared in his head.
Why was he following her?
He had reasoned that he wanted to know more about her. Specifically to answer the questions that he and the company had about her. He was surprised to see that she was able to perform magic, and that only aroused his curiosity further.
SPLASH!
He gasped as cool liquid dropped on him from above. Where had that come from?! Wiping away the moisture from his eyes, all thoughts fled his mind as he looked up into a pair of angry blue eyes.
"It is unkind to spy on others good elf."
He was speechless for a moment, but shook his head as he wiped away the water running down the sides of his face.
"What do you have to say for yourself?" she asked, crossing her arms in front.
"Nothing."
Eruwen was taken aback for a moment; that was not the answer she had expected. But her frowned returned as he looked back up at her.
"Why deny the obvious? I followed you here." His tone was calm as he leaned back onto a tree. Water was still running down his face and hair, seeping into his clothes. H shifted slightly against the tree- it had only taken a few seconds for a very wet and very uncomfortable wet spot to appear in the middle of his back. But he ignored the feeling as he confronted the girl.
"But, why?" she asked, confusion clear in her tone
"There are a few questions I wish to ask you."
She paused, her frown disappearing and her tone soft as she spoke "You wish to know the truth behind my knowledge of Mithrandir's death, don't you?"
He nodded, and couldn't help but notice the uneasiness in her posture, and the way her eyes avoided him.
"To be honest, I don't exactly understand this myself. However, I suppose it is only fair for you and your companions to know the truth." She smiled slightly as she looked back up at him "Can't have you thinking I'm using the dark arts, now can I?"
He gave a small smile of reassurance, and that pushed her to go on. She recounted the dream as best as she could the night before their arrival. He listened attentively, catching every detail that she spoke of. By the time she had finished, there was only one question remaining in his mind about the entire story.
"You spoke of calling out to him, warning him of the danger in the lake. Did you not?"
She looked at him curiously "I did"
His brow creased in thought, vaguely remembering that moment when he...
"It's hard to believe he's gone, isn't it?"
His attention was brought back to the small girl in front of him, who's back was now turned to him.
There was a silence between them, and he sensed that she had something more to say. He noticed her hands shaking slightly at her sides, and heard her whisper; "O my dear Pilgrim Grey!"
"It is. My heart is saddened by his departure from this world." he responded after realizing who she was referring to. He heard small sniffles from her as she turned back to face him, her eyes sad as they fell upon them.
"I have hope yet" she said "It may sound strange, but I do not believe that he truly died in the mines. That is what my heart is telling me. " She smiled, the light in her eyes renewed. "My, time does go by quickly, doesn't it?"
"Ah, yes." He was shocked at the sudden change in her attitude. And her eyes...He just couldn't shake that feeling...
"Excuse me for my abruptness, but have I met you before?"
Eruwen was stunned by his question, met him?
"No. I do not believe so. I've never left these forests in my life. That is, unless you have been here before. Why do you ask?"
He felt slightly confused by her answer, though he didn't entirely understand why. The last time he had visited these forests, it had been outside her lifetime. What could be the reason for this feeling of familiarity?
"No reason."
She shrugged, forgetting the strange question in an instant. "It's time we go back to the city. Surely your companions are wondering where you are."
Briefly nodding, he followed her lead through the trees in silence. They did not walk long to reach the resting place of the company, and Eruwen paused before she left him.
"Tomorrow, would you allow me the honor of showing you and any of your companions the forests or Lothlórien, good elf?"
He smiled at the notion, and without hesitation he answered, "Only if you will call me by my name"
She mirrored his expression, "Very well then, Legolas"
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The god snorted, obviously unsurprised by Serenity's reaction. His eyes were fixed on hers in a dark glare, and for the first time since he came to talk, she looked scared.
"What are you talking about?" she asked again, rage slowly building up inside of her. How could he act so calm in a situation like this? If there even was a life threatening situation...
He frowned, and pointed at the mirror behind the goddess. She turned to look at it, only to find the images within the mirror swirling, changing by the god's command.
"This," he started "is what was supposed to have happened in this world. The little ones were to have succeeded their mission, and all of the company that was with them all achieving what was destined for them"
Serenity watched the mirror, the scenes before her showing the great destruction that came with the war.
"But now" he waved his hand, throwing the picture back into the swirling disarray it had before "Your interference has changed what destiny had planned. No one knows what will happen in that world. For all we know, the evil of Middle Earth will destroy triumph over the good, throwing everything into chaos. Perhaps even causing their own destruction"
She was speechless. Yes, she had known that something would have been changed in the world when she had sent her daughter there. What she hadn't known was the fact that the world's warring had caused a great imbalance within the universe. She had made the state of that world much worse by sending her only daughter there.
"You never answered my question" she said quietly, turning back to face the other god "What will happen if she dies?"
-End Chapter 5-
@_@
Oooooooook, that was really bad. I was stuck on this chapter in many places I'm afraid...I promise to try to put more effort into the next chapter!
Ah, Happy Holidays!
Oh, and be kind and review ^_^ Reviews are a great source of motivation *hint hint*